Kinsey named chairman-elect of Welch Scientific Advisory Board

Kinsey named chairman-elect of Welch Scientific Advisory Board

BY PATTY SENDELBACH
Special to the Rice News

James Kinsey, the D.R. Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science at Rice University, has been named chairman-elect of the Welch Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Kinsey will succeed former Rice President Norman Hackerman, who has been chairman of the SAB since 1982. Kinsey will assume the chairmanship in October.

Photo courtsey of the Welch Foundation

James Kinsey, left, the D.R. Bullard-Welch Foundation Professor of Science at Rice University, was recently selected chairman-elect of the Welch Scientific Advisory Board. Kinsey succeeds longtime chairman and former Rice President Norman Hackerman, right.

“I have the greatest respect for the Welch Foundation and for its dedication to advancing chemistry for the benefit of humankind,” Kinsey said. “The reputation of the foundation goes well beyond the borders of Texas. I am honored to join the scientific advisory board and to be named its chairman-elect.”

Hackerman said, “Jim Kinsey has been in this field for a long time, has extensive administrative experience and a broad perspective. I have no doubt I am leaving this responsibility in good hands.”

Kinsey is a Texas native and earned both his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in chemistry from Rice in 1956 and 1959, respectively. He was the first doctoral student of Nobel laureate Robert Curl, University Professor Emeritus and the Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger Professor Emeritus of Chemistry.

Kinsey served as dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences from 1988 until 1998. He also served as interim provost of Rice from 1993 to 1994.

—Patty Sendelbach works for Hill & Knowlton, a public relations firm.